The Best Veterans Day Deals

America has a strange tendency to turn every holiday, major or minor, into an excuse for having a sale. Columbus Day? That means 30% off storewide! Presidents Day? Every car on the lot must go! Canadian Thanksgiving? Sure, let’s have a sale!

Don’t get us wrong: We love a good sale, whatever the reason. So we’re pleased as punch to see that there are plenty of sales and special deals for Veterans Day (formerly known as Armistice Day) on Thursday. Some are only available to veterans and active duty military, while others have more general availability. Here are a few that caught our eye.

JC Penney

The department store chain is taking 50% off its entire stock of furniture and lighting (excluding baby furniture), plus 50%-60% off all mattresses, marked down from $399 to $169. The sale has already started, so start shopping now.

National ParksAll National Parks that normally charge fees, including Yellowstone National Park, are offering free admission on Veterans Day only. Other fees, such as reservation and camping fees, will still apply, however. This is the last fee-free day of 2010.

Eddie Bauer

You can get up to 60% off through Veterans Day at Eddie Bauer, including this polo shirt marked down from $29.50 to $9.99 (that’s a bit more than 60% off by our math).

Applebee’s

The restaurant chain will offer free dinner for all veterans and active duty military on Veterans Day. It’s a nice gesture, but if someone in your family served their country in the military you should probably take them somewhere nicer than Applebee’s. Like, say, Outback Steakhouse, where veterans get a free Bloomin’ Onion and a soft drink on Veterans Day! (Seriously though, take your veteran somewhere nice tomorrow.)